The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-06-21


a people have been educated into seeing
without dsmay, their laws disregarded
and disobeyed, liberty is already dead,
and free government Is at an end. ION
what meat doth this our Caesar feed up
on that he hath grown 80 greatY' II has
trained in the school of disregarding and
violating the revenue laws; of disre-
parding and violating the laws relating
to minors; of disregarding and violating
Sunday laws of disregarding and vio-
lating the gaming laws, until there is no
law human or divine that it respects
when it comes in the way Of its nefarious
traffic.
1t is only few years ago that the peo-
pie of Texas enacted the BELL Punch
law" That law did not at all prohibit
the trade, but aimed to make it pay
revenue to the State out Gf and in pro-
portion to the business done. While II
was enacted only a few years ago, 1T has
been out of our statute books 30 long as
to be forgotten. Why? 1t was distaste-
full to the saloon men, and they COM
bined together to defeat it.. They
claimed that it was unconstitutional
and contrary to liberty and disobeyed
it. The question Of its validity was car
| ried before the Court of Appeals OF
Texas and, in that high tribunal, 1t was
decided to be a constitutional and valid
law. Did they obey it then? Never!
They trampled the law and the decision
into the mire, and the people of Texas,
at their dictation, repealed the law.
With shame and sorrow let it be con-
fessed that it was obeyed as much after
it's repeal as before.
These are the people that now talk
about the loss of revenue to the State,
and increased taxation if their traffic is
stopped. Cut off the drain of multi
piled millions through the rum-shops,
and the people can afford to pay the
taxes required to support their govern
ment. Can we be fallen 30 low as to
want to make profit out of vice and
crime? They say we will deprive the
poor man of his grog. Did the grog
ever do him any good? Do you mean to
benefit the poor man by selling it to
him? Will he be any the worse off when
he is deprived of it? The human system
never yet digested a drop of alcohol.
II the poor mans money ia no longer
left at the rum-shop, it may then reach
his humble home and clothe and feed
and bring gladness to the hearts OF his
wife and children. II more of these
anti-prohibition orators had been where
the fanatics, preachers and meddling
women" have benin the homes OF the
poor men who can at every corner buy
grog and leave their money, they would
not now grow 80 eloquent over the loss
of the poor mans grog. The orators
have clipped glasses" in the saloons,
while the "women aid preachers" have
ministered to and mourned with the de-
graduation and misery brought by whis-
ky into the poor mans family.
The loss of revenue to the State is
prated about, and a small asserted in
crease of taxation is magnified as il the
people of Texas are ready to sacrifice
the well-being of society, the suprema-
CIV of good government and the moral
welfare of the people for money. II by
selling indulgences to keep disorderly
houses, bawdy houses, gaming houses,
to Sabbath breakers, lotteries and va
grants, the whole expense of the State
government can be paid, 30 as for it not
to be necessary to levy any tax upon
property, are the people of Texas ready
to make the change and license all crime
for O price! Under which reign will the
State most prosper--all crime INDUCED
for the sake of revenue that dispenses
with any tax upon property; or all crime
suppressed and all charges of govern
ment paid by taxation of property?
It is asserted but not proved that the
abolition Of the liquor traffic will cause
an increase OF taxation on property.
The attorney-general of the State lends
his official name to prove, not only that
the arm Of the law will not be strong
enough to contend with the insolent
traffic, but that the revenue accruing
from it to the State is greater than the
cost of furnishing criminals by 1t directly
produced.
believe that this hurried surrender
Of the majesty and dignity of the State
to the saloons is not more Illuminating
than the figures are misleading. The
first law officer of the State must study
deeper the affairs of State, and the sta
tistics and cost of furnishing criminals
too, and figure more profoundly before
he can convince the people that whisky
is a source Of revenue.
The comptroller does not keep, and
cannot furnish to the attorney general,
the figures of the cost to the people of
furnishing whisky crimes. II the attor-
ney-general doee not know, the county
attorneys and the people do, that the
account OF direct cost kept at Austin is
the smallest part Of the whole. That
takes no account of the cost Of jails and
Jail fees, paid by the counties, Of the
pay Of jurors and judges, while engaged
In this branch Of their duties; Of the cost
above revenue Of the penitentiaries; and
the loss of time and private expense en-
tailed on jurors, witnesses and litigants. |
Correctly estimate all Of these things, |
and then show that this worse than